Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub Writers
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League roared into its decisive phase with a Saturday of fury, colour and survival heroics.
From Mandava to Shamva and Mutare to the capital, Matchday 28 left hearts pounding and the title race wide open.
Bosso in Mandava meltdown
Highlanders’ trip to FC Platinum turned into a full blooded drama that will be retold all week in Bulawayo. The champions were handed a 1-0 defeat, but it was the storm around coach Pieter De Jongh that stole the show.
From the first whistle the Dutchman prowled the touchline like a man possessed, clashing repeatedly with fourth official Mhaka Magare and berating referee Patrick Kalota. Every 50-50 call felt like an insult.
“It was a 50-50 game between the two teams. But every 50-50 challenge, the foul is for FC Platinum. I have not seen that in the many years that I have coached. It’s very strange. In the first-half we had a clear penalty which was not given,” De Jongh thundered.
His fury boiled over when midfielder Marlvin Hativagoni went down under a crunching tackle. Instead of a foul, Kalota booked him for dissent, drawing an angry chorus from the travelling Bosso fans.
While tempers flared on the sideline, Platinum stayed cool. In the 70th minute substitute Jerrison Selemani produced a strike of rare beauty, unleashing a long range rocket that screamed past Ariel Sibanda.
“It was a brilliant goal. He did something similar when we played Scottland. He decided to take the shot and it was fantastic,” said Platinum coach Norman Mapeza.
Highlanders hurled everything forward, even pushing centre back Brian Mlotshwa into attack, but could not break through. For Bosso supporters the sight of their coach raging against officials as precious title hopes slipped away summed up an afternoon of frustration and defiance.
Gold fever in Shamva
In Shamva, football turned into a carnival. Wadzanai Stadium glittered as defending champions Simba Bhora and big spending Scottland fought to a gripping goalless draw that felt anything but dull.
Scottland’s Tymon Machope thought he had scored when his header crashed off the underside of the bar, only for referee Tichaona Mbire to wave play on. Simba Bhora pressed late through Donald Mudadi and Boid Mutukure but the deadlock held.
Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya, taunted as “Judas Iscariot’’ on his return to his old club, stayed composed. “For us to come here and get a point is good. This is a very difficult venue,” he said.
Joel Lupahla, Simba Bhora’s coach, accepted the result. “Playing against Scottland was not going to be easy. They are a good side, with good players and a good coach. So, to get a point was fair,” he said.
The draw means Simba Bhora stay top on 55 points, two ahead of Scottland, keeping the bullion backed title race ablaze.
Mutare survival surge
In Mutare, Manica Diamonds found the spark they desperately needed, overcoming GreenFuel 2-1 in a gritty survival battle. After a cagey first-half, coach Tafadzwa Mashiri’s substitutions paid off. Fortune Binzi won a penalty that Evans Katema buried, before Katema added a second with a cool lob.
Adrian Sila’s stoppage time penalty came too late for GreenFuel. Mashiri hailed “a huge relief” and praised his team’s resilience after two winless weeks.
Bikita Minerals grab lifesaving points
At Heart Stadium, Fitzgerald Banda’s stoppage time header gave Bikita Minerals a priceless 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Yadah.
Head coach Wilson Mtekede, on Cosafa duty but in constant touch, saluted his men.
“I am happy we have moved a bit away from the relegation zone. My salute to the players who fought their hearts out. We don’t want to be in the same desperate situation we were in last year when we needed to win to survive on the last day.”
The victory eased Bikita’s fears and left Yadah stuck on 29 points from 28 matches, still staring at danger.
CAPS United frustrated
Elsewhere, CAPS United and Herentals shared a goalless draw that tested the patience of Green Machine coach Ian Bakala. “It is two points dropped. It’s disappointing because we could not come out with meaningful points,” he said, after a host of missed chances.
